Chinese Forbidden City Museum. Winter Imperial Palace Gugong "Forbidden City". Description of the Purple Forbidden City

In China, on a vast territory in the center of the capital, is located one of the largest palace complexes in the world - the so-called “Forbidden City”. Two great dynasties - Ming and Qing - ruled the empire from the walls of this residence. And these are the 24 rulers of the Celestial Empire. The location for the construction of the imperial chambers was selected especially carefully. According to astronomers of those years, this particular point was the center of the globe.

According to the old times Chinese legend One monk saw the city plan in a dream. He told the prince - the future emperor - about the amazing dream. As a result of grandiose construction, a luxurious palace complex was erected.

Forbidden - because inaccessible

Why is the city called Forbidden? At a time when the ruling emperor lived within the walls of this palace with his family and numerous retinue, access to the common man was closed. Anyone who dared to disobey the order and still entered the city was expected to be executed.

The buildings were built mainly from wood, but brick and marble are also found. Heavy roofs of buildings are supported by powerful columns. These are protection measures against possible earthquakes.

Security kept a vigilant eye on who was going into the imperial chambers and why. Five gates stood in the way of ambassadors and local officials arriving to the emperor. The entrance doors face south. Thus, the city residents fenced themselves off from the enemy threatening the Celestial Empire from the north.

Outside, the city is surrounded by a high wall and a moat filled with water. This is an artificially created channel called the River of Golden Water. There are several bridges across the canal. And every resident knew which of the bridges was allowed to enter the city for a person of his class. The two central ones were used exclusively by members of the imperial family. The two bridges were assigned to the highest civilian and military officials. And through the remaining two, the remaining residents could enter the city, regardless of rank and rank.

Gugun Museum Complex

Wooden buildings have repeatedly suffered from fires and robberies. But every time, restoring buildings, architects tried to give the buildings their former appearance. Therefore, today tourists see the grandeur and beauty of ancient buildings almost unchanged.

Now the Forbidden City is a museum complex. And now anyone can enter it and admire the rich decoration of the imperial chambers.

The palace complex occupies about 72 hectares of land. Its territory accommodates 800 buildings. Pavilions, carved gazebos, bright galleries are interspersed with flowering gardens, lakes, even rivers. In the center rises the Pavilion of Supreme Harmony - Taihedian. Its height is about forty meters. For several centuries, this building was the tallest in all of Beijing. In the empire it was strictly forbidden to build buildings higher. In the center of the pavilion there is a majestic throne - a symbol of imperial power on earth.

The roof of Taihedian rests on 86 wooden columns. The diameter of each of them is a whole meter. Six gilded columns surround the magnificent throne. Carvings of dragons decorate these powerful pillars. The luxurious hall of the pavilion was used for the most significant palace receptions.

Each palace is beautiful in its own way. The works of great masters are collected here: bronzes, paintings, skillfully made jewelry, rich imperial clothes. The collection of exhibits is replenished annually, and now museum complex there are about a million luxury items.

Gugun, that is, “ Former palace" - this is what the imperial possessions are called these days, most beautiful place, which is definitely worth checking out when visiting Beijing.

For many centuries, Chinese emperors ruled in the mysterious Forbidden City.

The Forbidden City is located in Beijing and is one of the famous attractions in China. The Forbidden City is considered the largest palace complex in the world.

The legend of the appearance of the Forbidden City

In Chinese, Forbidden City is Gu Gong, which means " Old Palace"Originally, the Forbidden City was called purple. For this reason, there is interesting legend. In general, the Forbidden City is entangled with religious and mythical concepts. This can be evidenced by various sculptures, the location of palaces, the decoration and design of halls that symbolize something of their own. The structure of the Forbidden City was dreamed up by a Yongle monk in a dream. The monk said that there was an extraterrestrial city where the Heavenly Lord lived in a purple palace. Chinese astrologers believed that the color purple is a symbol of joy, happiness and that the PoleStar star is purple. The PoleStar star was formed as a result of the merger of 15 celestial bodies. As a result, the emperor decided that he was the Son of Heaven, and therefore was called upon to maintain harmony between man and nature. In order to establish a balance between nature and man, you need to build the Forbidden City, which will be located directly under the purple star, in the very center of the world. By the way, purple could only be used by the emperor. Only the emperor signed documents with special purple ink.

General information about the Forbidden City

The Forbidden City was an imperial palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1644). Over the years, 24 emperors lived and ruled in the palace. Construction of the Forbidden City began in 1407 during the reign of Emperor Zhu Di of the Ming Dynasty. Construction took about 14 years. More than 200,000 people were involved in the construction of the Forbidden City. The Forbidden City demonstrates the considerable skill of the Chinese in construction. The technology for making bricks using glutinous rice and lime was not so complicated, but at the same time, the walls built from these bricks turned out to be durable. While the walls are made of brick, the buildings in the city are built almost entirely of wood. In this regard, in those days, there was a risk of fire, because. Candles were used as lighting. To quickly extinguish the fire, vats of water were provided, which were located near the buildings. There are a total of 308 vats located throughout the Forbidden City. The vats were placed on stone stands, thereby making it possible to light a fire under the vat without allowing the water to solidify. winter period time.

The symbol of the imperial family was yellow, which became the dominant color in the decoration of the city. The roofs, interior decoration of the palace, paving stones are made in yellow. The color yellow symbolizes the earth. However, there is an exception, for example the roof of the Royal Library is covered with black tiles. This is due to the fact that the black color symbolizes water, which means that if a fire occurs, it will be easy to prevent. In addition, the roofs of the palaces where the emperor's heirs lived were covered with green tiles, which symbolized growth.

On each roof of the building there are figurines, the number of which corresponds to the number of people living in the building. There are 10 figurines on the roof of the Hall of Supreme Harmony alone. This number symbolizes heaven and the holiness of the building. But the personal number of the emperor is the number 9.

The Forbidden City occupies 74 hectares of land. There are about 800 buildings with 9,000 rooms in the city. The city is surrounded by a 52 m wide moat filled with water and a 10 m high wall. The Forbidden City is divided into an outer and an inner courtyard, with long corridors running between them. There are gates on four sides of the wall, entry through which was regulated by strict rules. It was forbidden to enter the city without special permission.

Attractions of the Forbidden City

Meridian Gate (Wumen)

Meridian Gate or Wumen. This is the name of the southern gate, which is one of the entrances to the Forbidden City. Chinese emperors considered themselves sons of Heaven, which means they should live in the center of the Universe. The emperors firmly believed that the Meridian line passed through the Forbidden City, hence the name of the gate. The South Gate is the most majestic gate of the Forbidden City. The word "gate" appears as one whole, but in fact the Meridian Gate consists of 5 openings, the tallest of which is 3.5 m high. The gate is topped with towers, each tower has bells. In the old days, the ringing of bells announced the departure of the emperor to the Temple of Heaven.

Everyone followed strict rules of use South Gate. Only the emperor could pass through the central arch of the gate. The Empress could only pass through the central arch once in her life, on her wedding day. The arch located west of the central one was used by members of the royal family. The arch located east of the central one was used by ministers. The remaining arches were intended for the entrance of minor officials. To ordinary people entry into the Forbidden City was prohibited.

The photo below is a view of Meridian Gate from inside the city.

After entering through the Meridian Gate, the courtyard of the Forbidden City opens with five bridges that symbolize human virtue, sense of duty, wisdom, reliability, decency. The so-called Golden River flows under the bridges. The central bridge was intended exclusively for the use of the emperor. The two bridges on both sides of the central bridge were used by members of the royal family, and the two bridges on the edges were intended for ordinary officials.

Hall of Literary Glory and Hall of Military Valor

The Hall of Literary Glory (Wenhuadian) and the Hall of Military Valor (Wuyingdian) are located next to Meridian Gate. In the Hall of Literary Glory, matters of national importance were decided, officials were received, and reports of the emperor were read. During the Ming Dynasty, a young prince was trained in the Hall.

The Hall of Literary Fame includes several more halls, among which are the Hall of Kindness and the Hall of Righteousness. Currently, the Literary Hall of Fame houses a ceramics museum, displaying ceramics from the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Initially, the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty lived and worked in the Hall of Military Valor, and only then settled in the Hall of Literary Glory. The Ming Dynasty Emperor lived and worked in the Hall of Martial Valor. Small-scale ceremonies and religious rites were performed in the same hall. Later, a book printing house was opened in the Hall of Military Valor. Until 1869, books were printed in the Hall, until a fire occurred.

Currently, in the Hall of Military Valor there is art gallery With a large number rare and ancient Chinese paintings. By the way, tourists are prohibited from photographing precious paintings. However, the ban does not apply to some paintings.

Gate of Supreme Harmony (TaiHeMen)

The Gate of Supreme Harmony (TaiHeMen) is the main gate of the outer courtyard. The gate is guarded by two bronze lions. The lion located to the west symbolizes imperial power extending to the whole world. On the eastern side, a lioness placing her left paw on a lion cub symbolizes the prosperity of the imperial family.

The lions located at the Gate of Supreme Harmony are the largest of all six pairs of bronze lions in the Forbidden City. During the Ming Dynasty, the emperor and all officials gathered at the Gate of Supreme Harmony every morning to discuss government affairs. The only exceptions were rainy, snowy or windy days.

Hall of Supreme Harmony of the Forbidden City

The Hall of Supreme Harmony (TaiHeDian) was the throne room and the most tall building in the Forbidden City. The Hall of Supreme Harmony and its adjacent courtyard were the venue for various ceremonies, such as imperial weddings, Chinese New Year, and other important events.

On the marble terrace there are 18 bronze ancient Chinese vessels, symbolizing the 18 provinces of China that existed at that time. On the terrace you can also see a bronze turtle, symbolizing longevity.

On the east and west sides there are marble sundial and an ancient vessel of measurements, symbolizing the justice of the emperors.

The windows and doors of the Hall of Supreme Harmony are decorated with drawings of dragons playing in the clouds. The design is carved on brass plates.

Inside the Hall is a throne made of sandalwood. The throne, located in the very center of the hall, stands on a two-meter platform and is surrounded by six golden pillars (not made of gold) with images of dragons. Above the throne, on the ceiling, there is a design of two dragons playing with pearls. Pearls are made of glass with mercury filled inside them. If the throne were captured by enemies, the glass pearl would fall down, causing the enemy to die.

Hall of Complete Harmony (Zhonghedian)

The Hall of Complete Harmony (Zhonghedian) is located between the Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihedian) and the Hall of Harmony Preservation (Baohedian). The Hall of Complete Harmony is the smallest hall of the three mentioned above. Unlike other halls in the Forbidden City, the Hall of Complete Harmony is square rather than rectangular in shape.

In the Hall of Complete Harmony, the emperor rested and prepared for the ceremonies held in the Hall of Supreme Harmony. In this Hall, the emperor held negotiations with various ministers, and also rehearsed his speeches before the start of important events taking place in the Temple of Heaven, the Temple of Earth and other temples.

Inside the Hall, on both sides of the throne, there are statues of golden unicorns. Unicorns were considered mythical creatures, capable of traveling a distance of 9000 km in one day. and speak different languages. This number is not accidental; it was believed that the number 9 is sacred. The number 9 belonged to the emperor, even the figurines on the roof were placed in such a way that the emperor’s figurine was the ninth in a row. In addition, unicorns symbolized the wisdom and high intelligence of the emperor.

Hall of Harmony Preservation

The Hall of Preservation of Harmony was used differently during different periods of government. During the Ming Dynasty, in the Hall of Harmony Preservation, the empress or crown princes would dress in festive clothes before starting solemn event. During the Qing Dynasty, the Hall was used for banquets. For example, in honor of the celebration of the princess's marriage.

Behind the Hall of Harmony Preservation there is a stone wall with an image of nine dragons playing with pearls. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the wall was considered sacred. Anyone who touched the wall was subject to the death penalty.

The wall weighs about 250 tons. To transport the stone to the Forbidden City, 20,000 people and thousands of horses and mules were involved. Transportation of the stone lasted for one month.

Gate of Heavenly Purity (QianQingMen)

The Gate of Heavenly Purity (QianQingMen) divides the Forbidden City into an outer and inner courtyard. The entrance to the Gate of Heavenly Purity is guarded by two lions.

In general, there are many lion statues installed in the Forbidden City, but the lions installed at the Gate of Heavenly Purity are somewhat different. The difference concerns primarily the ears of lions. Unlike other lions, the bronze lions standing at the Gate of Heavenly Purity have their ears flattened. This detail, insignificant at first glance, symbolizes the non-interference of women in government affairs.

Along the walls of the gate there are 10 gilded bronze vats, which are designed to store water in case of fire. The emperors, sitting on a throne installed in the middle of the gate, listened to reports and made important decisions.

Palace of Heavenly Purity of the Forbidden City

The Palace of Heavenly Purity was considered the emperor's bedroom. The palace is a smaller copy of the Hall of Supreme Harmony. In the center of the palace stands a throne surrounded by long red candles and mirrors to ward off evil spirits. The sayings of the Qing emperors are written on the pillars, and above the throne hangs a plaque, the inscription on which means honesty and openness. The palace was used not only as a bedroom, but also as a place for conducting important government affairs. Sometimes, banquets and various rituals were held in the palace. During the reign of the Qing Dynasty, the coffin with the deceased emperor was kept in the Palace of Heavenly Purity for several days and only then the emperor was buried in the mausoleum.

Hall of Heavenly and Earthly Union (Jiaotaidian)

The Hall of Heavenly and Earthly Union (Jiaotaidian) is one of the three main palaces in the courtyard of the Forbidden City. The hall symbolizes the strong union of heaven (emperor) and earth (empress), the emperor and empress should live in harmony and respect with each other. During the Qing Dynasty, the Empress's birthday was celebrated in the Hall of Heavenly and Earthly Union. High-ranking ladies and princesses bowed and congratulated the Empress. And on the Winter Solstice Festival and the Spring Festival, people went to the Hall to express their respect for the Empress. The hall displays a clepsydrum, the only water clock that has survived to this day. Clepsydra allowed the Chinese to tell time by drops of water.

In addition, in the main hall there are 25 imperial caskets located on both sides of the throne. These boxes were once used to store imperial seals, the seals have now been moved to the Jewelry Gallery. Each seal had its own purpose, for example, the “Huangdi Zhibao” seal was used when issuing imperial decrees, and the “Mingde Zhibao” seal was used in the case of rewarding employees of the imperial court.
Palace of Earthly Tranquility (KunNingGong)

The Palace of Earthly Tranquility (KunNingGong) was the residence of the empresses of the Ming and Qing dynasties. The dominant color in the palace was red, which symbolized happiness. So, the interior walls of the palace were painted red, there were red candles everywhere, the beds were made with beautiful red bedspreads embroidered with colored silk threads.

The palace was large, because the emperors hoped for a large number of children. Some emperors held wedding ceremonies in this palace. During a certain period of the reign, some rooms in the palace were places for sacrifices. On every first and 15th day of the month, the emperor and empress performed divine rituals in the palace. Some ceremonial ceremonies were also held in the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, for example, the first day of the New Year. Gradually the Palace of Earthly Tranquility became sacred place for performing sacrificial rituals.

Hall of Spiritual Prosperity

The Hall of Spiritual Prosperity was built during the Ming Dynasty. During the Qing dynasty, the hall was used for some time as the emperor's study, where state affairs were decided. Eight of all the emperors of the Qing Dynasty lived and worked in the Hall of Spiritual Prosperity. The emperor's meetings with foreign ambassadors, political and military negotiations with ministers were held in the hall. Today, in the Hall of Spiritual Prosperity, there is a gallery of imperial treasures. Among the treasures are tea and table sets made of gold, silver and jade.

Six Western and Six Eastern Palaces of the Forbidden City

The six western palaces were the living quarters where the empress and her concubines lived. At different times, different empresses lived in one of the six palaces. If concubines were spotted on a city street at night, by order of the emperor, eunuchs brought the offending concubine to the palace, where she was searched for weapons. Some emperors, notable for their cruelty, severely punished their concubines. With the exception of the emperor and his sons, all other men in the Forbidden City were eunuchs. This rule was necessary so that the emperor was sure that the children born belonged to him.

The six eastern palaces, as well as the six western palaces, were homes for empresses and their concubines. Architectural complex consists of six palaces, namely the Palace of Great Kindness (Jingrengong), the Palace of Accumulating Purity (Zhongcuigong), the Palace of Heavenly Benefit (Chengqiangong), the Palace of Great Brilliance (Jingyanggong), the Palace of Eternal Harmony (Yonghegong) and the Palace of Extending Happiness (Yanxigong). All palaces are square in shape. The Ming Dynasty Emperor's concubines lived in the Palace of Great Kindness. Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty was born in the same palace. The crown princes of the emperors of the Ming Dynasty lived in the Palace of Purity Accumulation. Now the Palace of Purity Accumulation is an exhibition hall for jade products. Previously, the concubines of the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties lived in the Palace of Heavenly Benefit. Now, Chinese bronze items are exhibited in the palace. The Palace of Great Brilliance was used to store books, and the Emperors' wives lived in the Palace of Eternal Harmony. Currently, the palaces house museums, namely the museum of silver and gold items and the museum of bronze mirrors.

Hall of Ancestor Worship and Palace of Fasting

The Ancestor Worship Hall (FengXianDian) was built in 1656 during the Qing Dynasty. In the Hall they paid tribute to the ancestors of the emperor. On the birthdays and death days of ancestors, religious ceremonies and traditional holidays were held in the hall. Currently, in the Hall of Ancestor Worship there is an exhibition of watches from that era. The exhibition hall displays a collection of almost 200 watches. Watches, in most cases, were gifts from foreign ambassadors to the emperor.

The Palace of Fasting or the Palace of Temperance was a place where the emperor spent several days abstaining from wine, onions, garlic, prayers, love affairs, as well as other minor matters. The emperor had to fast before making a sacrifice to heaven.

Imperial Garden and Pavilion of Pleasant Sounds

The Imperial Garden covers an area of about 12,000 square meters. m. The garden is decorated with flower beds, rockeries, sculptures and gazebos in classical Chinese style. The garden was planted with cypresses, acacias, exotic flowers and rare herbs, which were combined in a composition with bronze statues, golden unicorns, and stones.

The garden was intended for the emperor and his family. In the garden, the emperor and the entire royal family were relaxing and drinking tea. The emperor often meditated in the garden and played chess. In the center of the garden is the Hall of Imperial Peace. The hall was built in the 15th century. The entrance to the hall is guarded by two gilded unicorns, which ward off evil spirits.

In each of the four corners of the garden there are small buildings symbolizing the four seasons. To the northeast is the Imperial View Pavilion, which rises on a mountain overlooking an amazing landscape.

Opposite the entrance to the hall there are two pine trees with intertwined trunks, which are more than 400 years old. Pine trees symbolize the harmony of the emperor and empress. Many visitors come to the garden to hug these two trees and ask for a happy marriage.

The Pavilion of Pleasant Sounds was a place for dramatic theatrical performances. The performances were dedicated to holidays, such as the Spring Festival or the Lantern Festival, as well as the New Year and other important events. The performance was watched by the Emperor and Empress, as well as all members of the royal family. The pavilion consists of several floors provided for decorations that rose to a certain height.

Gate of Divine Valor

The Gate of Divine Valor is the northern gate and the only exit from the Forbidden City. However, the emperor could leave the Forbidden City through the Meridian Gate, while all other exits were only through the Gate of Divine Valor. The gate is a rectangle with three doorways. During the Ming Dynasty, there was a market at the gate that ran every 4th, 14th, and 24th day of the month. The gate has a tower with bells that were rung once every 2 hours from 19:00 to 05:00. At dawn, the bell was rung once more when the emperor arrived at the palace.

The western and eastern gates have the same structure and are located closer to the Meredian Gate, rather than centered on the western and eastern walls of the Forbidden City. The gate was additional, probably for emergencies.
Nine Dragon Wall

Among the attractions of the Forbidden City is a wall depicting 9 dragons. The wall is 31 m long and approximately 5 m high.

The scene depicted on the wall is of yellow, blue, white and purple dragons playing with pearls against the backdrop of the sea and clouds. The wall consists of 270 glazed tiles. The number 270 can be divided into 5 and 9. B ancient China these numbers symbolized the supremacy of the emperor.

Carved stone slabs and city decoration

The dragons carved from stone on the slabs flanked by stairs are also impressive. Only dragons and clouds are carved on such slabs, which are a symbol of heavenly power.

There are a lot of beautiful doorways and windows in the Forbidden City. Amazing beauty tiles adorn the walls of palaces and buildings. More than 1,000 gargoyles decorate the platforms of the outer courtyard. When it rains, water flows through the mouth of each gargoyle, which is also very spectacular.

In addition, the painted ceilings of the halls and palaces of the Forbidden City are amazing.

Currently, the Forbidden City is open to everyone. Everyone can walk around the city and enjoy amazing architecture, visit various exhibitions, admire the treasures that have survived to this day. However, you should carefully consider the time of your visit, because... V holidays, the number of visits may be reduced. The best time visiting the Forbidden City is from the end of March to the beginning of June and the period from the end of August to the end of November. To avoid large cluster people, choose not a holiday or a day off. I note that about 10 million people visit the Forbidden City every year.
Until 2020, some areas of the city will be closed to tourists, because... Major renovations are underway. But most of the city will be available to everyone.
The Forbidden City has a very large territory, so you should plan your route in advance so that you have enough strength to visit the most interesting places to the cities.
It's better to take food with you, because... The Forbidden City is visited by a lot of tourists and there is a possibility that there will be no seats in the cafes and eateries located in the city.

Scheme of the Forbidden City

A Meridian Gate	TO Hall of Military Valor
B Gate of Divine Power	L Literary Hall of Fame
IN West Gate	M Garden of Happiness and Tranquility
G East Gate	ABOUT Hall of Heavenly Purity
D Watchtowers	P Hall of Heavenly and Earthly Union
E Gate of Supreme Harmony	R Hall of Earthly Tranquility
AND Hall of Supreme Harmony	WITH Imperial Garden
Z Hall of Complete Harmony	T Hall of Spiritual Prosperity
AND Hall of Preservation of Harmony	U Palace of Longevity

The gate has five doors - three in the center and two doors on the sides. The side doors were used by maintenance personnel and are now closed. Of the three central doors, the right one was used by officials, the left by members of the imperial family, and only the emperor himself could pass through the central large door, but there were two exceptions.

The first exception was made only for the empress and only once - on her wedding day. The second exception was made once every few years for the winners of the imperial examination. We recommend that tourists go through the central door. Feel like an emperor.

Tourists should pay attention to the rivets on the doors. There are a total of 9 rows of rivets and 9 columns (you can count it yourself in the photo in the gallery on the right). 9 is the emperor's lucky number, and you will see him constantly in the Forbidden City.

The Midday Gate is stunning in its size - it is 35 meters high, which is equivalent to an 11-story building. At the top there are 5 towers called “Phoenix Towers”. The whole structure really resembles this mythical bird.

The main bells and drums of Beijing were installed at the edges of the central tower. Bells rang every year, announcing the departure of the emperor to the Temple of Ancestors, and drums beat when the emperor departed for the Temple of Ancestors. During the most important ceremonies, bells and drums sounded simultaneously, announcing the coronation or wedding of the emperor.

The noon gate was a place of “communication” between power and peace. Here new laws were officially declared, the emperor greeted his subjects on holidays, hosted parades and looked at the punishments of guilty officials.

Gate of Supreme Harmony (Taihimen) (2)

After the Midday Gate you will reach large area– The outer courtyard of the Forbidden City. There is a water canal called the Inner Golden River, with five bridges across it. The rules for passing through these bridges were completely similar to the rules for the doors in the Midday Gate.

This channel had several functions. The first is a source of water in case of fire, the second is a natural barrier for attackers in the event of an attack on the Forbidden City. Tourists should pay attention to the balustrades of the bridges, decorated with figures of dragons and phoenixes - symbols of the emperor.

Another interesting thing to notice about this square is the bricks of the pavement. These bricks are made using a special technology; they produce a pleasant ringing sound when you step on them. This property of covering an area has almost disappeared, but in some places this sound can still be heard.

The main attraction of the square is two giant bronze lions. The right lion holds a sphere under its paw, symbolizing the power of the emperor, which extends to the whole world. The left lioness holds a lion cub under her paw, symbolizing the well-being and fertility of the imperial family. The Chinese believe that such lions protect the house from evil spirits and attract good ones. Naturally, these lions are the largest in China.

Behind the lions is the Gate of Supreme Harmony itself. The name “gate” is a convention; in fact, it is a real pavilion. It was used in all cases when someone was not allowed to continue, but a meeting with the emperor was necessary. For example, receptions of foreign ambassadors or the imperial court.

Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihidian) (3)

Once you pass through the Gate of Supreme Harmony, you will enter the largest square in the Forbidden City - 30,000 square meters. Behind it rises the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the main building of the Forbidden City.

This is the “heart” of the Forbidden City. It was here that the emperor received officials and generals, and all the most important ceremonies and celebrations were held here. The hall is located on a marble base in three tiers. Two large staircases lead upstairs. In the center there is a marble slab weighing 250 tons, which we have already described above, decorated with bas-reliefs of phoenixes and dragons.

The height of the building is 37.5 meters, and for a long time the Hall of Supreme Harmony was the tallest building in Beijing. The law prohibited the construction of buildings above it. When you look at the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the thought does not even occur to you that this building is the height of a 12-story building.

Traditional Chinese architecture has never strived for gigantism. Harmony of size, shape and content was the main goal of ancient Chinese architects. And, to be honest, they did it great.

Some websites on the Internet write that the Hall of Supreme Harmony is the largest wooden building in the world. Of course this is not true. The Odate Jukai Dome Stadium in Japan is 52 meters high and covers an area of 25,000 square meters. Compared to it, the Hall of Supreme Harmony is small.

Even in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, tourists will see a lot of interesting things. Pay attention to the huge water vats - another fire safety measure. The main sundial in the Forbidden City is also located here. Also here you can see very interesting stone columns, similar to lanterns, which served as a repository for standards of weights and measures.

The Hall of Supreme Harmony is 64 meters wide and 37.2 meters deep, with an area of 2381 square meters. The roof is supported by 72 columns - 6 rows of 9 pieces. Note that the number 9 is also used here - a symbol of imperial power.

Inside is the main imperial throne. It is called the Throne of Supreme Harmony. It can be difficult for tourists to see it because it is dark inside. In the Hall of Supreme Harmony, more than four doors are rarely opened, and there is not enough light. The central door is opened very rarely, and you have to look at the throne at an angle. In addition, from this angle the throne is blocked by columns. In the photo on the right you can see how sad it looks.

There are a lot of people who want to see the throne, and you still need to “break through” to the open doors. On weekdays this is quite possible, but on a weekend it is an epic feat. Hence the conclusion: do not go to the Forbidden City on weekends and holidays. On weekends in Beijing it is better to go to the markets or or walk around shopping centers district Cultural attractions are always crowded with visitors these days.

In addition to the throne, inside you can see six gilded columns decorated with bas-reliefs of dragons. These columns are visible a little better (see photo on the right). On the roof directly above the throne is a large golden dragon playing with a pearl. There is a legend that if someone usurps the throne, this pearl will fall on him and crush him to death. This dragon is very difficult for tourists to see, and even more difficult to photograph.

Hall of Central Harmony (Jonghedian) (4)

This is a small building with a pyramid-shaped roof. This hall served for the emperor to rest and change clothes before ceremonies. There is also a throne inside, but it is much more modest than the Throne of Supreme Harmony. The hall was often used as a place for conversations between the emperor and his close ministers and generals.

The inscriptions near the throne read: “The path of Heaven is deep and mysterious, but the path of humanity is difficult. Only if you draw up an accurate and unified plan and follow it, you can rule the country well.” These words were left here by Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty. He knew what he was talking about, because he ruled the country for 60 years.

Hall of Preserved Harmony (Baohedian) (5)

This is the last building of the “outer palace” - the working part of the Forbidden City. After it you will find yourself in the “inner palace” - the residence of the emperor and his family.

The Hall of Preserved Harmony had many functions. During the Qing Dynasty, it most often served as a banquet hall. During the Ming era, it served as a place for the empress and princes to prepare for ceremonies.

In appearance, it is similar to the Hall of Supreme Harmony, but smaller in size. There is also an imperial throne inside, and also of a smaller size.

All these three halls stand on a single base of three tiers. If it rains during your visit to the Forbidden City, don’t be upset right away. This is a good opportunity to look at the amazing drainage system. Tourists notice at the base stone heads dragon, and it seems that this is just decoration, but these are the exits of pipes leading water down. There are a total of 1412 of these dragon heads.

Address: China, Beijing
Main attractions: Gate of Heavenly Peace, Midday Gate, Hall of Supreme Harmony, Hall of Harmony Preservation, Hall of Central Harmony, Palace of Heavenly Purity
Coordinates: 39°54"57.0"N 116°23"26.9"E

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Brief History

In the center of Beijing, just north of the world's largest square, Tiananmen, lies the Purple Forbidden City, also known as Gugong. This is truly a real city within a city, surrounded by strong walls.

Bird's eye view of the Forbidden City

For nearly 500 years, Gugong served as the residence of 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Construction of the palace began at the beginning of the 15th century, when the Yongle Emperor moved the capital from Nanjing to Beijing.. A million builders and 100 thousand craftsmen - painters, stone and wood carvers - worked hard to build the Forbidden City. After 15 years, the grandiose construction was completed, and the palace appeared before the emperor in all its splendor. According to legend, the palace had 9,999 rooms, that is, one less than in the residence of the Heavenly Lord.

Gate of Heavenly Peace

The Emperor, considered the son of Heaven, could not exceed this number (10 thousand). Today there are 980 palace buildings and 8,707 rooms in Gugun.

The Forbidden City - “a secret sealed with seven seals”

The city was called forbidden because entry into it was closed to mere mortals. Access for titled persons was opened on special occasions and only to the Hall of Supreme Harmony (“Taihedian”), where the emperor held official ceremonies and negotiated with diplomats.

Noon Gate

In terms of the wealth of decorations, Taihedian had no equal in all of China. The hall is supported by 72 columns. Everywhere: on the columns, on the floor and in the ornaments there are images of dragons. In the northern part of the hall there is an imperial throne carved from sandalwood. Above the throne under the ceiling is the most famous dragon, which holds a pearl in its mouth. The Chinese believed that the dragon protected the power of the emperor - if an impostor ascended the throne, the pearl would fall on his head.

Hall of Supreme Harmony

The Forbidden City is stretched along an axis from north to south and is a rectangle in plan, with gates on each side. Along the perimeter palace ensemble surrounded by a 3400 m long wall and a moat with water. There are walls in the corners watchtowers. Legend has it that the architect puzzled over the design of these towers for a long time.

But one day, while sitting in a teahouse, he met a merchant selling crickets in reed boxes. The box with a concave roof and ceilings inspired the architect with the outlines of bastions in which guards, like a cricket, should never sleep.

Hall of Harmony Preservation

Apparently, it was impossible to enter Gugun without an invitation. Huge number rooms served as reliable protection from hired killers: no one except trusted servants knew in which room the emperor would spend the night.

Symbolism of the Forbidden City

The layout of Gugun is subject to the “u-sin” theory, according to which there are five primary elements in the world that give rise to all other things and natural phenomena: wood, fire, earth, metal and water. The facades of the main buildings of the palace face south: since fire belongs to the south, and fire generates energy containing the masculine active principle, or Yang (Sun), then the empire must be ruled from here.

Hall of Central Harmony

The north, symbolizing water, gives rise to “Yin” (the feminine essence, the Moon), so the living quarters are located in the northern part.

Yellow is the color of the earth, the center of the universe; it represents the power of the emperor, which is why the roofs in the Forbidden City are covered with gilded tiles. The walls and pillars of the palace are painted red, which is identified with solemnity, wealth and honor. The water is represented by an artificial canal - the “Golden River”, across which 5 marble bridges are thrown, symbolizing 5 virtues: wisdom, philanthropy, loyalty, truthfulness and respect for traditions.

Throne in the Hall of Central Harmony

The imperial garden is located in the northernmost part of the Forbidden City. There are many ponds, gazebos, bamboo thickets, flowering beds and fancy stones. The emperors rested here and practiced composing poetry, and the empress wives arranged examinations for candidates for concubines.

Gugun Museum

After the Xinhai Revolution of 1911, which dethroned the last emperor of China, the Purple Forbidden City was renamed "Gugong", which means "Palace of the Old (Former) Rulers."

Throne in the Palace of Heavenly Purity

In 1925, Gugun was declared a public museum, and the collection of art collected by the emperors was recognized as a national treasure. The museum fund of the imperial palace contains 1 million 807 thousand exhibits, and 1.7 million of them are considered relics of national importance, and the rest are simply cultural values and even fragments of imperial ceramics, which are also of interest to art historians.

Palace of Heavenly Purity

Among the abundance of Gugong's treasures, the following works stand out: a set of sandalwood furniture that once adorned the residence of Prince Hun, calligraphic masterpieces by Chen Bo, ritual statues of warriors and horses from the time of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, items made of jade, bronze and ivory.

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